A Website Dedicated to Overcoming Global Health Disparities

Riding a bicycle is becoming a more and more popular activity nowadays. Whether the surge in people taking to bicycles is due to the increase in petrol prices or concern about the environment; what we do now is that choosing a bicycle as a mode of transportation has numerous health benefits which cannot be ignored.

Why mountain-biking over regular cycling? Although normal bike riding does increase your health, mountain biking pushes it to that extra level of cardiovascular activity through the use of gear variety, bike structure and riding terrain. One of the main health benefits of riding a mountain bike is the improvement of cardiovascular fitness. This is because cycling makes the heart pound steadily, increasing your heart’s fitness by three to seven percent and decreasing the risk of having coronary heart disease. A study done by the British Medical Association on 10,000 people showed that riding a bicycle for at least 20 miles in a week, lessens your risk of having coronary heart disease by almost 50%.

Riding a mountain bike also builds, strengthens and tones your muscles. If you do ride regularly, the muscles on your legs, thighs, buttocks and hips will strengthen, helping to protect your hip and knee joints.

Taking your mountain bike out on a rougher-terrain track is a good way of improving stamina and body coordination; since you are using numerous parts of your body while riding.

It also reduces stress and depression; however it is advisable that you consult with a doctor before beginning a rigorous fitness program and they can inform you of the best way to incorporate cycling into your overall fitness routine. It is also best to make sure you have top-quality biking gear such as a sturdy helmet and knee and elbow pads. If you are not too keen on mountain bikes, but still want to use a bicycle to improve your health and fitness, you can choose a road bike which is best for riding on paved surfaces, and are light for long distance riding. Alternatively hybrid bicycles are designed for light trail riding and have more comfortable saddles.

Whichever option you choose, there’s no doubt that riding a bicycle has been proven as an excellent way to better your health, improve fitness levels and reduce stress; and you can find all the bicycles and bike accessories you’ll need from Bicycles Online. They can help you choose the correct bicycle for you, and give you advice on what accessories and safety gear you may need to kick-start your cycling health routine!

Cutting down on expenses is not always the practical thing to do; especially when it comes to dealing with health related issues you or your family may develop. Remember that age old saying “prevention is better than cure?” But sometimes it is too late to prevent health-related issues, and when that happens, all we can do is try to find a solution.

Paying medical bills can be a costly and stressful activity during the time of illness. Even if you do have money put aside for times like these, the cost of paying medical bills usually always outweighs the savings. If prevention is the way to go then there is no better way to avoid this from happening, than to ensure you and your loved ones are fully covered. Health insurance can protect not only your finances but also your physical, emotional and mental health.

You can only avoid sickness for so long, with most, if not all of us, having to be hospitalised at some point. By having high quality health insurance cover, you can rest easy knowing that you will be able to receive the quality health services you want for you and your family, without it impacting on your financial situation.

NIB offers great health insurance coverage to suit every individual’s needs and budget. From singles to families, from overseas students to Australian residents, for those wanting the full hospital and extras cover, to those just looking for dental and optical. Paying another monthly bill might seem impossible right now, but consider what would happen if you or your family did need medical attention; good health and safety for your family is not something you can put a price tag on.

The Australian public health system receives a fair amount of harsh criticism despite the recent implementation of various health programs; most of which are largely focused on the female population. But are these programs, created to improve the health and well being of women nationwide, adequate?

Statistics show that in Australia more women than men visit hospitals and GP’s. Those women aged around 53 to 58 years are more likely to have, and be able to afford private health insurance; while those aged 79 to 84 years are less likely to be able to afford adequate health care. In addition, social and economic conditions including a lack of affordable health care services and a lack of culturally appropriate services and information which have lead to health disparities between groups of women. Consequently those who are most in need are not being provided with sufficient medical care, and therefore more reliant on the public health care system.

In line with this, the government has set up various health service facilities to serve the medical needs of women, particularly in this age group. Policies have been set up to provide affordable and accessible health services for women such as: programs targeting disability, hospital admissions, mental health and wellbeing and sexual and reproductive health; as well as programs dealing with emotional traumas such as violence and safety.

Aside from this, the government has also created a policy – The National Women’s Health Policy – to ensure better health care for all Australian women. The policy, outlined on the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website, states that it “recognises the importance of addressing immediate and future health challenges as well as addressing fundamental ways in which society is structured and it impacts on women’s health and well being.”Aiming to maintain and develop health services and programs for women all over the country.

These policies and programs sound like they are a step in the right direction for the under-staffed and under-resourced Australian health care system; only time will tell if they actually succeed.